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Metals Industry News

Concerns about weak economic data, geopolitical headwinds and the risk of a slow slide toward global recession are dominating market sentiment; short-term relief may come from more concerted central bank stimulus, but the real cure will only likely come from a new trade deal.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly higher during morning trading on Tuesday August 20, with the complex benefitting from improved risk sentiment following positive signals in the ongoing trade war between China and the United States.

Nickel’s three-month price on the London Metal Exchange was lower at the close of trading on Monday August 19, dipping below the $16,000-per-tonne support level amid a broadly low turnover across the complex, while a steady uptick in lead lead gains over the afternoon.

Imperial Metals has completed the sale of a 70% stake in its wholly-owned Red Chris copper and gold mine in British Columbia, Canada to Newcrest Mining, creating a joint venture with Newcrest as the operator.

Xinjiang Xinfa Aluminium, a subsidiary of Xinfa Group, was heard to have closed 500,000 tonnes of aluminium production operational lines at its plant in Xinjiang province, China due to an incident at its electrical transformer on August 18, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday August 19.

The three-month tin price on the London Metal Exchange was down by just under 2% during morning trading on Monday August 19, retesting its 2016 low amid a continued downtrend, while the largest delivery in LME nickel since May 2018 helped cool the metal’s elevated price.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly down during morning trading on Monday August 19 while markets reacted to comments from US President Donald Trump over the weekend that the United States is “doing very well with China and talking” but suggested he was not ready to sign a deal.